Good job! Chris Eggleston gets a congratulatory hug from Beth Owens after Eggleston and the rest of the Port Aransas High School boys’ cross country team arrived home from taking second place at regionals on Saturday, Nov. 6. STAFF PHOTO BY DAN PARKER The Port Aransas Marlins crosscountry team will be in Round Rock Saturday,, Nov. 13, for a shot at the state cross-country title. The boys’ team came in second at the regional meet Saturday, Nov. 6, in San Antonio, and advances to state competition.

An ailing girls’ cross-country team finished sixth overall in the regional competition. Coach Steve Reaves singled out Matt Fries, who finished second overall in the boys’ race. Two other Marlins finished in the top 20 – Alex Groseclose at 11, and Austin Henderson at 17.

“It shows the depth of our team, that with our number one runner (Corban Marcantel) still recovering, we were able to still finish second in the region. Now we just need to make sure we hold our form and get ready to compete this weekend.”

Hustle! Matt Fries, right, of the Port Aransas High School cross country team, runs in regional cross country competition on Saturday, Nov. 6, in San Antonio. COURTESY PHOTO Marcantel, who has finished first at several meets this year, suffered tendonitis of the patella (kneecap) at the district meet in Corpus Christi on Monday, Oct. 25, and did not finish that race. He finished 41st at the regional meet.

Randy Borden, who had a strained Achilles tendon at the district meet and did not finish it, came in 74th at San Antonio.

Reaves said he expected both Marcantel and Borden to be “better than 90 percent” by the time the state meet begins.

While the Lady Marlins won’t advance, Reaves said he’s very proud of how they competed this year.

“We just struggled with nagging injuries all year and never could find our form,” Reaves said. “For them to go to the regional meet and finish sixth, with a less than healthy team, just shows you how seriously they take this sport and how competitive they are.”

He said the Lady Marlins “represented Port Aransas with class every time they raced.”

There were 24 teams in each regional race, Reaves said -- 159 boys and 177 girls.

The state cross-country meet is set for Old Settlers Park in Round Rock. The boys’ 1A race is scheduled for 12:50 p.m.

To get to Old Settlers Park, take Interstate 35 north through Austin and exit on U.S. 79 in Round Rock. Take U.S. 79 east; the park will be on your left (the north side of the highway). Regional cross-country results

Varsity Boys Matt Fries, 16:52, 3rd Alex Groseclose, 17:23, 11th Austin Henderson, 17:40, 17th Chris Eggleston, 18:37, 39th Corban Marcantel, 18:43, 41st Nestor Angel, 18:47, 45th Randy Borden, 19:27, 74th

Varsity Girls Marina Milligan, 13:38, 27th Maddison Shannon, 13:38, 33rd Megan Forrest, 13:59, 41st Brenna Martin, 14:12, 56th Meagan Hardegree, 14:18, 62nd Kelsey Abel, 14:36, 73rd Rachel Davis, 14:58, 87th